Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-05-25
common ground of utmost bravery. The
spot is historic. 1t ought to be dedicated
in honor of both sides who battled there.
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE'S LOVE.

A singular woman was buried at Ath-
ems, Ga, on the 18th instant, whose life
has been a romance. In her coffin was
placed the original copy of "Home, Sweet
Home" Which had been addressed to her
by John Howard Payne, who was then a
sutton for her hand. Miss Mary Harden,
the daughter of Gen. Harden, of Savan-
nah, is the lady whose name is thus
linked with the great household hymn.
Miss Harden had been living for many
years a secluded life, rarely passing be-
yond the threshold of her W domicile.
Years ago she was a young n attract
i've maiden, in all the freshness of young
romantic ~womanhood. At that time she
"Home, Sweet Home" Time and again
he offered her his hand and his heart. She
liked him not we'll enough to wed him,
but her friendship for him was sufficient
ly strong to cause her to treasure his MEM
Dry and preserve with almost religious
reverence the few mementoes of her for
mer and long since dead lover.
Frequently has she been importuned by
autograph hunters and spectators to part
with the manuscript of "Home, Sweet
Home" One gentleman, the agent of a
we'll known Magazine, offered her $500 for
the manuscript, but she refused him, say
ing I have been offered many times $500
for it," 1t is said here by some who have
seen the original that the manuscript is
interlined with love messages and other
tokens of affection in Payne's handwriting
and the fact that these tokens of a once
breathing love would be put before the
public deferred her from ever parting
with it.. 1t is not known by any one what
disposition she has made of this docu-
ment. 1t is even limited that she destroy
ed it, fearing, in case of her death, that it
might fall into other than friendly hands,
and q love that was once sacred and ten
der to her become a sport and a jest with
the world. But the general opinion IS
that it was buried with her.
Miss Harden was a lady of advanced
age. Her father, the late Gen: Harden,
was at one time a very wealthy man, but
after the war most of his fortune was
swept away. When he died his daughter
applied herself to the task OF recovering
most of the property and succeeded In
getting back much of it. Her natural
talents were great and varied. She wrote
and spoke several languages, especially be-
ing proficient in French. For many years
she was in the employ of we'll known pub
fishing houses in the North, her work
being translating the works of French
authors into English. She not only main
tanned herself by this work, but was sue
cessful in laying aside each year a snug
sum, which was applied. to the object she
ever had in view, regaining possession OF
the property of her father. 1t is not
known how much her estate will be
worth. It has been considerably reduced.
At n time it was large, but now the
largest estimates do not place it beyond
SEA, 900. 1t is not known whether she left
a will, as there has been no opportunity as
yet of making an examination of her ef-
fects but the rpmor is abroad that she has
made Emmanuel Episcopal Church of this
city her sole heir.-AMens Dispatch.